By Craig Morgan, thesundevils.com Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Jared du Toit isn't daunted by major challenges. In his first PGA Tour event this summer, du Toit finished ninth at the RBC Canadian Open to outduel his favorite golfers, Jason Day and Graham DeLaet.
As he begins his senior season at Arizona State, the former hockey player from Kimberley, British Columbia is facing a different challenge: assuming the title of ASU's No. 1 player. The guy he's replacing is departed standout Jon Rahm, who won the 2016 Pac-12 individual title, was the number one golfer in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and was the low amateur at the 2016 U.S. Open.
"Everybody wants that ace starter to pitch Game No. 1 in the World Series," Sun Devils men's golf coach Matt Thurmond said, "but it is asking a lot of Jared to step right into that role, and certainly it's asking a lot for him to be like Jon Rahm. What I would tell Jared is 'just be you. You have a whole team of competitors. Don't worry about carrying the weight of the world.'"
Last summer's top-10 performance at the RBC Canadian Open was a major highlight, but du Toit just returned from another: the World Amateur Team Championships in Cancun, Mexico where Canada finished in a tie for ninth-place in the 71-nation competition for the Eisenhower Trophy.
"It's always a great honor to represent your country and me being a very patriotic guy, I took a lot of pride in that," said du Toit, who shot a three-round total of 1-over 287. "I would have liked to play a little better but I love playing in these events.
"It can take a lot out of you with all the travel during the college season, sometimes it's tough to stay focused and you definitely get stressed out at times, but again, you are doing these unbelievable things; having these incredible experiences so it's hard to complain about anything."
"Growing up, I would have loved to be a pro hockey player but as I got older I realized that probably wasn't going to be to be a possibility," du Toit said, laughing. "I played at a pretty high level when I was 14 and 15, but after that, each year, it seemed like I went down a level incrementally."
The opposite is happening on the golf course, despite a rough opening round at the Fighting Illini Invitational. Du Toit admits that his experience at the Canadian Open boosted his confidence and has him thinking more and more about a pro career when his ASU days are over.
"There were definitely a lot of things going through my mind before it," he said. "I had seen a lot of amateurs do well in pro events and before the week, I told a buddy of mine, 'why not us? All these guys have all this success. Why can't it be us?'"
Thurmond says du Toit already possess an elite tour player's iron game and is a very good chipper. He also likes du Toit's temperament, his thoughtful approach to the game, his fun-loving approach to teammates that makes life hard on unsuspecting freshmen, and his confidence.
"When I'm walking with him on the course sometimes I'll suggest more conservative shots around the green and he'll say, 'c'mon, Thurms! I've got a pair of mitts on me!'" Thurmond said.
Like du Toit, Thurmond thinks the Canadian experience was ultimately good for his development, but he offers words of wisdom and caution.
"I always remind guys when they have those defining events that they're still the same guy they were going into it. They're not, all of the sudden way better. They just had a few good days.
"I think the danger is you start thinking you should play that way all the time, but at the same time, it's also good to see that you have it in you and that you can get a glimpse of your top potential. Plenty of guys can hit the ball well and look pretty and have good holes, but to really understand how to position yourself and shape a ball -- he really has those finer qualities that it takes to be a pro."
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Jared du Toit isn't daunted by major challenges. In his first PGA Tour event this summer, du Toit finished ninth at the RBC Canadian Open to outduel his favorite golfers, Jason Day and Graham DeLaet.
As he begins his senior season at Arizona State, the former hockey player from Kimberley, British Columbia is facing a different challenge: assuming the title of ASU's No. 1 player. The guy he's replacing is departed standout Jon Rahm, who won the 2016 Pac-12 individual title, was the number one golfer in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and was the low amateur at the 2016 U.S. Open.
"Everybody wants that ace starter to pitch Game No. 1 in the World Series," Sun Devils men's golf coach Matt Thurmond said, "but it is asking a lot of Jared to step right into that role, and certainly it's asking a lot for him to be like Jon Rahm. What I would tell Jared is 'just be you. You have a whole team of competitors. Don't worry about carrying the weight of the world.'"
Du Toit has an impressive resume of his own. He won the 2015 British Columbia Amateur Title and last season for ASU, and he posted top-10 finishes at the Alister MacKenzie Invitational, the Amer Air Invitational, the Prestige at PGA West and the Lamkin Grips.Jared du Toit has been named Team Captain of @asumensgolf @Jareddutoit
— Matt Thurmond (@MattThurmond) September 26, 2016
Last summer's top-10 performance at the RBC Canadian Open was a major highlight, but du Toit just returned from another: the World Amateur Team Championships in Cancun, Mexico where Canada finished in a tie for ninth-place in the 71-nation competition for the Eisenhower Trophy.
"It's always a great honor to represent your country and me being a very patriotic guy, I took a lot of pride in that," said du Toit, who shot a three-round total of 1-over 287. "I would have liked to play a little better but I love playing in these events.
"It can take a lot out of you with all the travel during the college season, sometimes it's tough to stay focused and you definitely get stressed out at times, but again, you are doing these unbelievable things; having these incredible experiences so it's hard to complain about anything."
Du Toit was born in Calgary, owns a Johnny Gaudreau jersey from his favorite team, the Calgary Flames, and played Canada's national sport through his teen years, while also playing golf with many of his buddies.Congratulations @Jareddutoit our 2016-17 captain leading program with incredible history @Paul_Casey @littleJRmaza @BMayfairGolf pic.twitter.com/DoxV9wleik
— ASUmensgolf (@asumensgolf) September 27, 2016
"Growing up, I would have loved to be a pro hockey player but as I got older I realized that probably wasn't going to be to be a possibility," du Toit said, laughing. "I played at a pretty high level when I was 14 and 15, but after that, each year, it seemed like I went down a level incrementally."
The opposite is happening on the golf course, despite a rough opening round at the Fighting Illini Invitational. Du Toit admits that his experience at the Canadian Open boosted his confidence and has him thinking more and more about a pro career when his ASU days are over.
"There were definitely a lot of things going through my mind before it," he said. "I had seen a lot of amateurs do well in pro events and before the week, I told a buddy of mine, 'why not us? All these guys have all this success. Why can't it be us?'"
Thurmond says du Toit already possess an elite tour player's iron game and is a very good chipper. He also likes du Toit's temperament, his thoughtful approach to the game, his fun-loving approach to teammates that makes life hard on unsuspecting freshmen, and his confidence.
"When I'm walking with him on the course sometimes I'll suggest more conservative shots around the green and he'll say, 'c'mon, Thurms! I've got a pair of mitts on me!'" Thurmond said.
Like du Toit, Thurmond thinks the Canadian experience was ultimately good for his development, but he offers words of wisdom and caution.
"I always remind guys when they have those defining events that they're still the same guy they were going into it. They're not, all of the sudden way better. They just had a few good days.
"I think the danger is you start thinking you should play that way all the time, but at the same time, it's also good to see that you have it in you and that you can get a glimpse of your top potential. Plenty of guys can hit the ball well and look pretty and have good holes, but to really understand how to position yourself and shape a ball -- he really has those finer qualities that it takes to be a pro."